Norman Wisdom
Actor, Writer, Producer
February 4, 1915 — October 4, 2010 (95 years)
Sir Norman Joseph Wisdom, OBE was an English actor, comedian and singer-songwriter best known for a series of comedy films produced between 1953 and 1966 featuring his hapless onscreen character Norman Pitkin. These films initially made more money than the James Bond film series, and secured Wisdom a celebrity status in lands as far apart as South America, Iran and many Eastern Bloc countries, particularly in Albania where his films were permitted by Enver Hoxha – Wisdom was the only Western actor to enjoy this privilege. Charlie Chaplin famously referred to Wisdom as his "favourite clown".
Wisdom later forged a career on Broadway and as a television actor, winning critical acclaim for his dramatic role of a dying cancer patient in the television play Going Gently in 1981. It was broadcast on 5 June that year. He toured Australia and South Africa. After the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, a hospice was named in his honour. In 1995 he was given the Freedom of the City of London and of Tirana. The same year he received an OBE. Wisdom was knighted in 2000 and spent much of his later life on the Isle of Man. Some of his later appearances included roles in Last of the Summer Wine and Coronation Street, and he retired from acting at the age of 90 after his health declined.
Wisdom later forged a career on Broadway and as a television actor, winning critical acclaim for his dramatic role of a dying cancer patient in the television play Going Gently in 1981. It was broadcast on 5 June that year. He toured Australia and South Africa. After the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, a hospice was named in his honour. In 1995 he was given the Freedom of the City of London and of Tirana. The same year he received an OBE. Wisdom was knighted in 2000 and spent much of his later life on the Isle of Man. Some of his later appearances included roles in Last of the Summer Wine and Coronation Street, and he retired from acting at the age of 90 after his health declined.
Known For
Filmography
| 2025 | Saucy! - Secrets of the British Sex Comedy · as Sam Marlowe |
| 2015 | Pinewood: 80 Years of Movie Magic · as Various Characters |
| 2007 | Expresso · as The Vicar (as Sir Norman Wisdom) |
| 2004 | Five Children and It · as Nesbitt |
| 2003 | Between the Sheets · as Maurice Hardy |
| 2003 | The Last Detective · as Lofty BrockOn Plex |
| 2002 | 666: Salem Calling · as WinstonOn Plex |
| 1998 | Casualty 250 · as Cast |
| 1997 | |
| 1996 | Dalziel and Pascoe · as Bernie Marks |
| 1992 | Double X: The Name of the Game · as Arthur Clutton/maurice Rigby |
| 1986 | Casualty · as Mr. Cole |
| 1981 | Bergerac · as Vincent |
| 1978 | 3-2-1 · as Merry Man |
| 1977 | |
| 1973 | Playhouse · as Bernard Flood |
| 1973 | Last of the Summer Wine · as Billy Ingleton |
| 1969 | What's Good for the Goose · as Timothy Bartlett |
| 1968 | The Night They Raided Minsky's · as Chick Williams |
| 1966 | Press for Time · as Norman Shields / Emily Shields / Wilfred, The Prime Minister |
| 1966 | The Sandwich Man · as Boxing Vicar |
| 1965 | The Early Bird · as Norman Pitkin |
| 1963 | A Stitch in Time · as Norman PitkinOn Plex |
| 1962 | On the Beat · as Norman Pitkin / Giulio Napolitani |
| 1962 | The Girl on the Boat · as Sam Marlowe |
| 1960 | The Bulldog Breed · as Ordinary Seaman Norman Puckle |
| 1960 | Coronation Street · as Ernie CrabbeOn Plex |
| 1960 | There Was a Crooked Man · as Davy Cooper |
| 1959 | Follow a Star · as Norman Truscott |
| 1958 | The Square Peg · as Private Norman Pitkin / General Otto Schreiber |
| 1957 | Just My Luck · as Norman Hackett / Mr. Hackett |
| 1956 | Up in the World · as Norman |
| 1955 | Man of the Moment · as Norman |
| 1955 | As Long as They're Happy · as Norman |
| 1955 | One Good Turn · as Norman |
| 1953 | Trouble in Store · as Norman |
| 1950 | Sunday Night Theatre · as Mike Angelo |
| 1948 | Date with a Dream · as Shadow Boxer |
| 1986 | |
| 1966 | Press for Time · as Screenplay |
| 1965 | The Early Bird · as Screenplay |
| 1963 | A Stitch in TimeOn Plex |
| 1962 | On the Beat · as Screenplay |
| 1960 | The Bulldog Breed · as Screenplay |
| 1959 | Follow a Star · as Screenplay |
| 1958 | The Square Peg · as Screenplay |
| 1969 | What's Good for the Goose · as Associate Producer |
| 1969 | What's Good for the Goose · as Script |